Chair



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. H. HALL & J E. TRIPP.

FOLDING CHAIR.

No. 330,231. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

@L/ M, if J N. PETERS. PlloQo-Lflhoghphcr, Washingium [1.6.

2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

G. H. HALL 8v J. E. TRIPP.

(No Model.)

FOLDING CHAIR.

N0. 330,231. Patented-Nov. 10, 1885."

rarns lllnrrn CHARLES H. HALL AND JAY E. TRIPP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE CHICAGO SEl/VING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

:PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,231, dated November 10, 1885.

Application filed April 9, 1884. Serial No. 127,162. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. HALL and J AY E. TRIPP, of Chicago, countyof Cook, and State oflllinois, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Folding Chairs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, that will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of i0 this specification.

This invention relates more especially to improvements in opera-chairs in which the seat and the back are adapted to automatic ally fold up for the purpose of economizing space; and it consists of certain novel features in the construction, arrangement, and operation of the parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the chair in position for use. Fig. 2 shows the same converted into a folded position; Fig. 8, a vertical section; Fig. 4, a top view of the back part of the seat. Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the back, showing the junction 2 with the pedestal. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the back, showing arm-rests attached.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a box-like pedestal adapted to inclose thelower half of the seat when in a folded position; B,

the seat, and O the back, of the chair. The seat consists of the center piece a and the two wings a a hinged to each side of the center piece and adapted to fold inward at right angles when the seat is converted into a folded position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The center piece, a, is provided on the under side, and near its longitudinal center, with the lugs a a embracing the corresponding lug, b, formed on the top and front of the pedestal.

0 These lugs are perforated for the insertion of the fasteningpin b, which secures these parts together and provides for a pivotal movement from this point when the seat is being converted from one position to the other. This pivotal point will be'a little above the center of the seat when the same is in a vertical position, so as to throw the greatest weight of the seat inside, thereby causing the same to fold with greater ease. The weight b on the back 0 part of the center piece a serves to automatic ally throw this end of the seat down and bring the same to avertical folded position when the weight of the person is removed, the two wings a a being caused to fold inward and conform to the change of position by having 5 5 contact with the friction-rollers b If, set in the adjacent edges of the top part of the pedestal,

as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, and which have the effect of causing these parts to move freely. The back part of the center piece a termi- 6c nates in the hook ends at d, curving inward and having frictional contact with the under side of the curved bar D, which is of the shape shown in Fig. 4. The friction-roller d is recessed in the back part of the center piece, and has a bearing on the upper side of the curved bar D, which is another feature that cases the movement of the seat in changing positions.-

The back of the chair consists of the center piece E and the wings d d hinged to each side of the same. These wings are adapted to fold inward toward the seat, and at right angles to the center piece of the back, thus corresponding to the position of the seat 5 when the chair is folded. The lower part of the back piece E is curved inward, so as to bring the same just inside of the upward-projecting sides 6 e of the pedestal A, as shown in Fig. 5. The back piece and the joining 8o sides 6 e are perforated at this point for the insert-ion of the hinge-rod 6 by which means the center back piece is secured in place relative to the pedestal, and the required pivotal movement imparted to the back in order to have the same properly conform to the change when the chair is converted from one position to the opposite. The center back piece of the chair extends downward from this point and terminates in the curved bar D, 0 which forms an integral part of the same. The upwardly-projecting sides 6 e are provided with the laterally-projecting lugs F F, which are adapted to have frictional contact with the back edges and downwardly-projecting part of the wingsd d", as shown in Fig. 5.

The back of the chair is provided with the arm-rests F F, which are shown in Fig. 6, the dotted lines indicating the position of the same when folded. These arm-rests will usu- 10o ally be in the form of a short curved bar, and secured to the wings of the back in any suitable manner. When desirable, these armrests may be dispensed with, as shown by the structure in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the chair is in position for use, as shown in Fig. l, the end of the curved bar D projects far enough out from the front to receive and hold a hat. In this position the back of the chair has the proper inclination backward, as shown in Fig. 3. When the structure folds up, the wings of the seat are thrown inward by contact with the friction-rollers b If, and at the same time the inner or lower end of the seat, swinging on its pivotal connection with the pedestal, gradually depresses the curved bar D, which forces the front end of the same back into the pedestal, the same movement bringing the back of the chair up to a perpendicular line by means of the hinged connection with the top of the pedestal, while at the same time the lugs'F F are brought in contact with the downward-projecting ends and back edges of the wings, throwing them inward and holding the same in the position shown in Fig. 2. When the upper end of the seat is thrown outward and down, the wings of the same drop outward by force of gravity,

the back ends coming in contact with the inside of the companion wings attached to the back of the chair, thus forcing them back and holding them in the position shown in Fig. 1.

This construction andarrangement provides a strong, durable, and simple structure,which is easily converted from one position to the other, folds up compactly, and may be used to a great advantage in all public buildings, or in any place where convenience and economy of spaceis an object.

We are aware that seats formed of two sections adapted to be folded together are old, and that sleeping-car seats having folding arms hinged to said seats in such a manner that they can be tilted to the same plane as the latter, for the purpose of making a bed, are also old; and to these we make no claim, as our device consists of a seat having a center piece and wings hinged to each side and forming part of the seat, which is pivoted to the supporting pedestal, for the purposes above mentioned.

Having thus described our invention,'what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a folding chair, the combination of a seat consisting of a center piece having wings hinged to each side and forming part .of the seat, and a supporting-pedestal having pivotal connections for said seat, substantially as described.

2. In a folding chair, the combination of a pedestal, a seat having a center piece, and folding wings forming part of the seat, and a weight, k attached to the back part of said center piece, substantially as described.

3. In a folding chair, the combination,with

asupporting box-pedestal having an open top, of a seat pivoted to the pedestal at or near its front end, and having wings or sides folding inward at right angles to the center of the seat, substantially as described, when the seat is turned up, as set forth.

4. In a folding chair, the combinatiomwith a supporting pedestal having extensions above the seat, of a back hinged to the extension, and consisting of a center piece, and folding wings hinged to the center piece, substantially as described.

5. In a folding chair, the combination of a pedestal having projecting sides e-and 6, provided with lateral lugs F F, and a back pivoted thereto and having wings d and d, substantially as described.

6. In a folding chair, the combination of the pedestal, a back having a downward-projecting curved bar, and the seat formed of a center piece,and folding wings hinged to the center piece and having friction roller d and hook ends which engage with said curved bar, substantially as described.

CHARLES H. HALL. JAY E. TRIPP.

Witnesses:

L. M. FREEMAN, V. STANwooD. 

